Senate Bill 181 proposes an amendment to current law regarding local property tax levy limits, specifically creating an exemption for costs associated with regional emergency medical services. The bill defines "regional" as a service area that is at least 232 square miles or includes at least eight municipalities. It allows cities, villages, towns, or counties to levy amounts for these emergency services without being subject to the usual levy limits, provided they participate in a joint emergency services district or intergovernmental agreements. Additionally, the bill stipulates that the levied amounts must not exceed a certain percentage increase relative to the previous year, and it requires confirmation of the regional service area by the Department of Revenue.

Furthermore, the bill amends the eligibility criteria for the expenditure restraint incentive program by excluding the amounts levied for regional emergency medical services from being counted in determining eligibility for program payments. This means that municipalities can receive incentive payments even if they exceed the typical levy limits due to these specific expenditures. The bill aims to enhance the funding and provision of emergency medical services across regions while ensuring that municipalities can still qualify for financial incentives.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 79.05(2)(c), 79.05